Wednesday | December 17, 2025
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Paulding Putnam brought members, employees, and community partners together in 2025 to support families, veterans, and local organizations through a series of donation efforts. Each initiative focused on meeting practical needs and strengthening the communities served by the cooperative. Paulding Head Start Preschool

Shoe Drive: New Shoes, New Smiles

From September through early December, Paulding Putnam hosted a Shoe Drive to provide brand-new shoes to school children and families in need throughout the co-op’s service area. Thanks to strong community support, more than 260 pairs of new shoes were collected. Paulding County Opportunity Center

A special thank you goes to Limitless in Paulding, which generously donated 100 pairs of shoes. Additional donations came from Paulding Putnam employees, board trustees, and members. 

Shoes were distributed to local organizations, including:

  • Paulding County Opportunity Center
  • New Haven Primary School
  • The Marsh Foundation in Van Wert
  • Putnam County Educational Service Center
  • Oakwood Elementary
  • St. James Lutheran Church Food Pantry in New Haven
  • Continental Elementary
  • Paulding Head Start Preschool
  • SARAH’S House and Victim Services in Defiance
  • Landgyn House Pregnancy Life Center in Van Wert

These donations helped ensure children and families had dependable footwear for school, work, and everyday activities. Clothes for Joes

Veterans Donation Drive

For the fourth year, Paulding Putnam held a donation drive to support local veterans. Donations were accepted leading up to Veterans Day on November 11, the final day of the drive. In total, employees, board trustees, members, and community groups contributed more than 700 full-size toiletry items, including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothpaste, and deodorant. 

A special shoutout goes to the Happy Bunch 4-H Club of Paulding County, whose members donated over 100 items. All collected supplies were donated to Clothes for Joes in Fort Wayne, an organization that supports veterans across Northeast Indiana and Northwest Ohio. For more about their mission, visit clothesforjoes.org. Happy Bunch 4-H Club

Employees Raise Over $2,200 for Local Charities

In addition to the donation drives, Paulding Putnam employees raised more than $2,200 for organizations making a difference close to home. Funds were split between:

• Local school weekend food programs for students, including Paulding Blessing in a Backpack and Continental Packs for Pirates

• Paulding County Dog Warden

• Shriners Children’s Hospital

Continuing the Cooperative Spirit

These efforts reflect Paulding Putnam’s ongoing commitment to serving the communities within its service territory. By addressing local needs and supporting trusted organizations, Paulding Putnam continues to put the cooperative principle of concern for the community into action.